NHTSA seeks to reduce backover accidents

06-Mar-2009 03:37 EST

In the hopes of reducing the number of people killed or injured by backovers, NHTSA (U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is seeking input from the automotive industry and the public at large as it crafts an update to the regulation addressing rear vision. The new rule would apply to all vehicles up to 10,000 lb. The applicable regulation (FMVSS 111, Rearview Mirrors) dates to 1976. It currently requires fitment of interior and driver's side exterior flat rearview mirrors. A passenger's side exterior rearview mirror is required only if the interior mirror does not meet a specified field of view, although there are no field-of-view requirements for that exterior mirror. The rule currently does not require an overall minimum rear field of view for a vehicle nor does it require rearview cameras or sensor systems for rear object detection. NHTSA is seeking input on the technological and financial feasibility of various options. Comments are due by May 4.

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